What do you do when no one else in the company or the meeting looks like you? We asked entrepreneurs and creatives from across industries and geographies to share their experiences and advice.
Monai
My learning to stand strong in my confidence. What that means is knowing what you bring to the table. Knowing not only your strengths but also your weaknesses and not being afraid to develop and work on those weaknesses. Making yourself the obvious choice by presenting your best self always. Read More>>
Dionna Sharay Smith
Being the only one in the room is something I know too well. As an African American with not-so-average curiosity and endeavors, I often find myself in spaces where people who look like me are absent. Read More>>
Charnice Hale
Knowing my worth and value has helped me to be successful when I am the only one in the room that looks like me. I have been surrounded by a long family history of entrepreneurs and creatives my whole life. Needless to say that the influences and encouragement of my family resonated with me and not after long I began to cultivate my gift. Read More>>
Celeste The Therapist
I am a mental health therapist , speaker and podcast host. I have a passion for helping people go from feeling stuck to walking a life of purpose. Many times life can throw us a loop where we feel stuck and struggle with getting out of our own way. We do not realize how powerful our mind is. My goal is to help people understand themselves better and how to get out of their own way. Read More>>
Xposyur
This is right up my alley! There are several stories but one that stands out is 2018 First Rehearsal for “TedxAkron:ConnecTED”. This had to be one of the first events I did outside of my norm. I was challenging myself to see if I really had what it takes in all arenas with my gift of spoken word. There were tons of applicants with compelling stories and premiere ideas of thought. I was the only one who applied with a different writing form. Being different isn’t an easy road. Most don’t understand you or judge you based off how you look not who you are. Now don’t get me wrong, Im big on first impressions but of CHARACTER. I decided in order to break barriers or color, caste systems, public biases and opinions, etc, to use a violinist to add performance technique and enhancement to what I was going to speak about. Smart idea. Read More>>
Dr. Alyssa Easley PT, DPT
Being a “solopreneur” is not always easy. I’ve learned to lean into doing things that I’ve previously told myself would be too hard or that I’m not good at. Switching my mindset from “I can’t” to “I could try” has been so helpful in building my business. Staying true to what I feel is my purpose and calling is also part of what has led my business to be successful in an organic way. And lastly, knowing when to look for help or outside opinions. Finding a business coach and others that I can connect to for advice plus chatting about ideas helps keep me grounded and focused. Read More>>
Erica Birkley
I used to think that I had to wear the tone, posture, and phrases of my supervisors to become what a psychologist is supposed to be. I freaked out one of my first clients who called me a robot. When I started working with veterans they flat out challenged my introduction of “hey ya’ll” as I’m not from the south and were seriously confused the one time I tried red lipstick. Read More>>
STabitha
Sometimes you have to find that “Fake It Til You MaKe It” energy. That is what it is, energy. I am not faking that I know how to do the job, but the confidences that says I am AWESOME at what I do and bring to the table. I know that when I show up to those networking events with my colored faux hawk, facial piercings, stretched lobes and chest/neck, they may not at first view as professional but I wear my embellishments well and I speak with knowledge about my industry. I show them to see past my decorated meatsuit, and gaze upon my ambition! Read More>>
